Rail car door closer

Abstract

A track mounted system for closing rail car doors that enables the simultaneous closing of multiple car doors. After hopper car contents such as aggregate or coal are unloaded, the doors are closed in pairs by semi-automated door closing arms that are positioned on the track and are operated by hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, or electric motors. The closing arms are configured in specific shapes to adapt to a variety of hopper door configurations. The closing arms may be added in pairs depending on the number of doors. The door closer can be sequenced to accommodate frontward or rearward facing doors. Hydraulic cylinders with a differential bell crank can be used to activate the closer arm assemblies. Closer arms can be mounted side by side on the inside or outside of the track or separately inside and outside of the track.

1. A system for simultaneously closing multiple hopper doors on a rail car, the system positioned in fixed association with a section of track on to which the rail car may be moved, the system comprising:
 a plurality of closer arm assemblies positioned in fixed association with at least one rail of the section of track and rotationally operable to make contact with and close the hopper doors when the rail car is positioned on the section of track; 
 a linkage assembly connecting the closer arm assemblies together and linearly operable to direct the rotational movement of the closer arm assemblies in concert; 
 a bell crank assembly connected to the linkage assembly and rotationally operable to direct the linear movement of the linkage assembly; and 
 a linear actuator connected to the bell crank assembly and linearly operable to direct the rotational movement of the bell crank assembly. 
 
   
   
     2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of closer arm assemblies each comprise:
 left hand and right hand opposing closer arms, the opposing closer arms each rotatable about a common intermediate pivot, the closer arms each having a free end moveable in a large arc so as to contact and close the hopper doors associated therewith, the closer arms each further having a linkage end distal from the respective free end thereof, the linkage ends of the closer arms moveable in a small arc and pivotally connected to the linkage assembly. 
 
   
   
     3. The system of  claim 2  wherein the linkage assembly comprises a first set of push-pull rods connecting together the left hand closer arms of each of the closer arm assemblies and a second set of push-pull rods connecting together the right hand closer arms of each of the closer arm assemblies. 
   
   
     4. The system of  claim 3  wherein the bell crank assembly comprises a left hand bell crank connected to the first set of push-pull rods of the linkage assembly and a right hand bell crank connected to the second set of push-pull rods of the linkage assembly. 
   
   
     5. The system of  claim 1  wherein the linear actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder. 
   
   
     6. The system of  claim 1  wherein the linear actuator comprises a pneumatic cylinder. 
   
   
     7. The system of  claim 1  wherein the linear actuator comprises an electric motor having a screw-drive gear assembly. 
   
   
     8. The system of  claim 1  wherein the linkage assembly comprises a plurality of rigid rods extending between clevis end fasteners, the clevis end fasteners pivotally connected to said closer arm assemblies. 
   
   
     9. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a frame beam extending parallel to and adjacent the section of track, the frame beam comprising a longitudinal beam with a plurality of pivot bolts extending orthogonal thereto, the pivot bolts serving as attachment points and as pivot points for the rotational operation of the closer arm assemblies. 
   
   
     10. The system of  claim 2  wherein the rail car hopper doors are arranged in opposing pairs and the left hand closer arms operate in concert to simultaneously close the hopper doors oriented in a first direction and the right hand closer arms operate in concert to simultaneously close the hopper doors oriented in a direction opposing the first direction.